More than a hundred youth and community members marched through downtown Yellowknife, braving wind and snow, to raise awareness for drug and alcohol addictions on Monday.
The walk, organized by the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, kicks off Canada’s National Addictions Awareness Week. This year’s theme is forging connections, highlighting the power of community support on the path to overcoming addictions.
“There’s a lot of addictions going on in our communities right now, and the drugs change on a daily basis,” says Katherine Arden, the community wellness manager at Tree of Peace. The organization has been holding the annual walk for 35 years.
“We involve the youth from schools to come and make their own posters, it’s good to make them aware of the dangers of doing drugs now while they’re young,” says Arden.
“Being open minded with your your children as they’re growing up, and tell them, don’t be afraid to ever call me if you’re ever in trouble, call me and I will come and I will find you and I will get you,” says Arden. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
These students are from K’àlemì Dene School, École Sir John Franklin High School, École St. Patrick School’s Students Against Distractive Decisions (SADD) group, and the Tree of Peace Adult Education program.
Shelley Karoo, originally from Taloyoak, Nunavut and lived in Yellowknife for five years, is an adult student with the Tree of Peace. She is a survivor of alcohol additions and have been two month sober. The poster she made for the walk won her an award today at the event.
“I have lost my kids due to drinking,” Karoo says. “I’m working on that for so many years, sobriety is not easy, it’s very hard, but you got to work very hard to stay sober.”
“I’m two months sober now, it feels wonderful, and I have more love for myself,” she says.
Karoo says she wants to be able to help people who are struggling with addictions someday.
Karoo was awarded today at the event for her poster, which reads, ‘I’m a recovering alcoholic’. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
Following the walk, students and community members gathered at the Tree of Peace centre for pizza and juice, where the organizers shared pamphlets and recourses for additions support.
Residents in need of support can visit their community counsellor, wellness workers, local health centre, or call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse.
Students, community members, and wellness workers walked around downtown Yellowknife on November 25, the first day of National Addictions Awareness Week. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
Participants braved wind and snow for a 20 minutes walk around downtown. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
The walk was accompanied by Yellowknife RCMP. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
